Cacio E Pepe

Cook the Pasta

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Add the pasta and cook until al dente, according to the package instructions.

Reserve 1 1/2 cups of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta.

Prepare the Sauce

In a large skillet or pan, toast the freshly ground black pepper over medium heat until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add 1 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water to the skillet and bring to a simmer.

Combine Pasta and Sauce

Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss to combine.

Remove the skillet from heat and gradually sprinkle the grated Pecorino Romano cheese over the pasta, tossing constantly to create a creamy sauce. Add more reserved pasta water if needed to achieve the desired consistency.

Serve

Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt if necessary.